Smitten with the Mitten Cheese
“Strive for progress not perfection”
As I hit my three month mark of living in Michigan, it seems fitting to do a Michigan cheese pairing for my first one. Just so we set the score straight, despite popular belief, and by that I mean, anyone not from Michigan, this state is pretty darn awesome. It has the most coastline in the country besides Alaska and more inland lakes than Minnesota. Because of the lakes, the soil is perfect for lots of different types of product to flourish. Finding "local" isn't tough here. West Michigan has a great food culture because of this.
One of my favorite examples (and favorite spots in Grand Rapids) is the Downtown Market. It is a food lover's dream. There are twenty some odd vendors throughout the space, with a greenhouse and an outdoor market (weather permitting). To no one's surprise, my favorite is the cheese shop - Aperitivo. I told the owner about my blog and that I had a special request for all Michigan cheese.
Needless to say, she delivered.
Evergreen Farms’ April Showers:
This cow's milk cheese is soft like Brie and similar in rind and flavor. The cheese itself is aged for two weeks but the longer that the cheese sits within the rind, the softer the interior gets. I waited a week after my purchase to eat. I cut open the rind and it was like the cheese had already melted - ooey gooey deliciousness. YUM. It is sweet and a bit salty at the same time. The most notable flavor of the cheese is how lemony it is. This cheese works well as a dessert cheese, despite its saltiness. It would pair well with champagne, fresh fruit almonds. It also paired wonderfully with my cherry wine.
Exquisite. Another cow's milk, specifically Jersey cow, cheese that is a lot like the French classic, St. Felicien. The fact that it is served in a terracotta crock makes it luxurious. Albeit, I don't fully understand why but I want to know, the crock itself helps to develop a luscious texture. It also causes it to eventually become liquid, like the April Showers. The cheese is rich, a little sour, but very buttery and creamy. The suggested serving method includes torching the top like you would Creme Brulee and serving with a baguette. Exquisite, again. If I had not already eaten the whole thing by the time I started my research, you can bet I enjoyed it this way.
Fruity and very sweet, for certain. These cheeses paired nicely with this wine, especially the April Showers. This winery is located in Paw Paw, Michigan. I personally just love the name of this winery.
This time was wine. Next time, I will be pairing with some great Michigan beer!
What is your favorite soft cheese?